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☆ Chipotle Mexican Grill misses sales estimates as inflation hits demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 26 (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG.N) missed Wall Street estimates for quarterly sales on Wednesday, signaling that demand for its rice bowls and burritos was losing steam in the face of higher menu prices and waning household budgets. Like other restaurants, Chipotle has also hiked menu prices to offset the impact of higher input costs of everything from beef to potatoes, deterring lower-income customers from ordering its pricier meals. Comparable sales at the restaurant chain rose 7.4% in the second quarter, compared with analysts' average estimate for a 7.59% increase, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Total revenue rose 13.6% to $2.51 billion in the three months ended June 30, also below estimates of $2.53 billion. Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: burritos, Chipotle, Deborah Sophia, Devika Organizations: Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Chipotle Is Bringing Its Burritos to Small Town U.S.A.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Heather Haddon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Playing Roblox's new virtual back-to-school-shopping experience felt like gig work gamified
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The delivery app Shipt released a delivery challenge featured on Roblox's popular "Driving Empire." It felt like gamified gig work, with the mindset of a "Fast & Furious" driver racing against the clock. In the game, which is featured as a challenge on Roblox's popular racing game, "Driving Empire," gig work is gamified. Players race against the clock to deliver school-supplies orders to customers — essentially playing the role of a Shipt delivery worker. Shipt did not answer questions regarding its gig workers.

Persons: Shipt, — Organizations: Service, Target, Labor, Depot, Walmart Locations: Wall, Silicon, Roblox

☆ Summer cooking hack: Ways to grill with campfires or firepits
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Casey Barber | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Start with a few key itemsAs with an indoor kitchen, you’ll need a few crucial tools to make your outdoor cooking expeditions a success. Metal cutlery are staples of outdoor cooking. Simple to prepare in advance, foil packets are among the easiest meals for a campfire cooking newbie to whip up. For skillet cooking, you can experiment with some of your usual one-pan meals transferred to the outdoors. One note: High-sided stainless steel firepits, such as Solo Stoves, aren’t the best option for cooking in coals.

Persons: they’re, I’ve, Helmut Feil, •, ”, Dani Meyer, you’re, Harlan Schwartz, ” Meyer, Meyer, Casey Barber Organizations: CNN

☆ Opinion | Flamin’ Hot Propaganda
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Adrian J. Rivera | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

“Flamin’ Hot” says “no,” that only through the gospel of ganas may we enter the kingdom of heaven. But, oh, how “Flamin’ Hot” tries. “Flamin’ Hot” isn’t even effective propaganda. There can be a successful Latino, the movie says, but only one; the people who serve him must also be Latino. A movie can depart from the strict truth and capture a broader, deeper truth, so I hoped “Flamin’ Hot” would surprise me.

Persons: hasn’t, Montañez, ”, “ Locations: America

☆ Pizza Hut-parent Yum Brands profit sliced by promotions
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of the KFC and Pizza Hut owner tumbled more than 4% after the company also warned of a $10 million to $20 million hit to current-quarter operating profit. However, along with higher food and labor costs, foreign exchange pressures and ramped up investments in automation and digital business, the aggressive promotions largely drove a 25% slump in profit. McDonald's Corp (MCD.N), Burger King parent Restaurant Brands (QSR.TO) and Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG.N) all topped quarterly sales and profit estimates on the back of price hikes and robust demand. Labor challenges were also easing, with the company seeing job application rates increase while staffing levels were either at or near 2019 levels. Excluding special items, it earned $1.06 per share, missing estimates of $1.13, according to Refinitiv data.

☆ Chipotle just revealed a top reason customers demand refunds — and has a plan to prevent them
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Chipotle's app now lets customers know if they are going to the wrong location to pick up an order. Digital orders have slowed down for Chipotle since the early pandemic but remain a source of growth. The new notifications use improved technology to determine customers' locations as they order. Digital sales at the Mexican-grill chain reached $3.4 billion in 2021, thanks to improvements to its app and early-pandemic demand for delivery. Digital sales represented 39.4% of all sales in 2022, several percentage points lower than 46.2% in 2020.

April 25 (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.N) topped Wall Street expectations for first-quarter profits and sales on Tuesday, helped by higher menu prices, 41 new restaurant openings and some recovery among lower-income customers. The company said it expects second quarter and full year comparable sales growth in the mid-to-high single digits. Even with inflation squeezing household budgets, restaurant chains are expected to post higher sales growth in the first quarter. Comparable sales at California-based Chipotle jumped about 11% in the first quarter, while analysts on average expected an 8.6% rise, according to Refinitiv data. Inflation in the second half is "really a wild card," Chief Financial Officer Jack Hartung said on the earnings call.

☆ Chipotle Mexican Grill's restaurant traffic grows as the chain proves its pricing power
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Like McDonald's , Chipotle said traffic to its restaurants grew during the first quarter despite higher menu items. Chipotle Mexican Grill on Tuesday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped analysts' expectations, fueled by better than expected same-store sales growth. In February, executives said January's same-store sales grew by double digits. Looking to the rest of the year, Chipotle is anticipating same-store sales growth in the mid-to-high single digits. It's expecting the same range for its second-quarter same-store sales growth, roughly in line with StreetAccount estimates of 5.8%.

☆ Healthy breakfast ideas: Start your day with these quick meals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Casey Barber | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Because of the versatility and hands-off aspect of the preparation, these are some of my favorite breakfast options for road trip vacations and camping adventures — but they work for busy at-home mornings, too. Overnight oats are one of the most versatile breakfast options out there — and can easily be taken on the road or enjoyed at home. NelliSyr/iStockphoto/Getty ImagesTartines, AKA open-faced sandwiches — or as I like to call them, “things on toast” — comprise a catchall category of breakfast options that can skew savory or sweet. When I have a few minutes and am feeling famished, my go-to move is to grab eggs and tortillas for breakfast tacos or burritos. Eggs and tortillas pair well in the morning to make breakfast tacos or burritos.

☆ People are ticked that delivery drivers complained about stingy tips in a viral New York Times article. Here are the 5 main reasons people don't think they should tip more.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Food delivery drivers are struggling to make ends meet, according to a recent New York Times article. While many delivery drivers said they benefited from larger tips during the beginning of the pandemic, some said this generosity has since faded. Why should sushi delivery drivers earn 10 times as much as pizza delivery?" (3) Drivers should be tipped based on how difficult their delivery wasSome commenters argued that food delivery drivers' tips should be based on how far — and what weather they had to endure — to make the delivery. "Someday, all of these gig workers will be too old to keep this kind of hustle up.

☆ Viral fast-food hacks, like the Chipotle 'fajita quesadilla,' prove American appetites haven't caught up to the climate crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The TikTok creator, known for reviewing fast-food staples, posted last summer about leveling up Chipotle's steak quesadilla with fajita veggies. Nathan Llorin, another popular TikToker, told Insider that it wasn't until he started eating and reviewing fast food that his videos took off. A climate message for menusIn January, research showed that labeling fast-food menus with their climate impacts swayed people away from red meat. But about 10% of customers now choose a meatless option, including Sofritas, the chain's plant-based mainstay made from tofu. Frost, the TikToker, told Insider that of all the things viewers attack her for on the platform, the environmental impact of fast food isn't among them.

☆ Enormous Chipotle burritos are the latest TikTok-inspired menu hack to infuriate fast-food workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Danni Santana | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ordering oversized burritos at Chipotle is an example of a trend that upsets fast-food workers. But a recent trend of ordering oversized burritos, made popular on TikTok, only adds to fast-food workers' frustrations with viral videos on social media. In the video, stalliontink wishes the Chipotle worker assembling the burrito "good luck" on wrapping it. Other Chipotle customers have ordered them online via the chain's app, dating back to last year. A sign at select Waffle House locations read "Order from the menu we are not making anything you saw on TikTok."

☆ IHOP overhauls its menu: Cinn-A-Stack pancakes are back, savory crepes are in
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

IHOP on Wednesday unveiled a revamped menu that includes more than a dozen new items and the return of its popular Cinn-A-Stack pancakes. The new menu, which will be available nationwide on April 3, spans breakfast, lunch and dinner and revives several items that disappeared during the pandemic, like the Cinn-A-Stack pancakes and Eggs Benedict. IHOP was fielding almost a dozen requests every week from customers asking for Cinna-A-Stack pancakes back on the menu, according to Donahue. Donahue said bringing back old favorites, like the Eggs Benedict, meant reminding workers how to poach eggs, for example. IHOP rival Denny's recently revealed its own updated menu, made possible by recent kitchen renovations.

☆ I work at Trader Joe's. Here are 7 things I refuse to buy there—and what to get instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Christian Beltran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Christian Beltran (left) has been working at Trader Joe's since 2021. I started working at Trader Joe's in 2021. Instant Cold Brew CoffeeWhat to buy instead: Organic Cold Brew Coffee, $5.49Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Photo Courtesy of Trader Joe’s ©2023Trader Joe's Instant Cold Brew Coffee is a fine, dark powder made of 100% Arabica coffee beans. Shredded HashbrownsWhat to buy instead: Hashbrowns, $2.49Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Photo Courtesy of Trader Joe’s ©2023I prefer Trader Joe's hashbrown patties over its shredded version, which tends to clump up in the bag and is more difficult to prepare. Poppy Pinot NoirWhat to buy instead: Loudenotte Cuvée Réservée Pinot Noir, $6.99Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Photo Courtesy of Trader Joe’s ©2023

☆ Hundreds of flexitarians are flocking to this vegan burger upstart. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Plant-based burger chain Next Level Burger is backed by Whole Foods. He'd given up red meat in 2010, after his mother died of cancer at 56. Both became early backers of de Gruyter's brand, Next Level Burger, which has grown to nine restaurants in six states. Following a $20 million raise last fall, Next Level Burger opened its 10th location and second restaurant in Seattle in late January. Next Level Burger patties are made of quinoa and mushrooms.

☆ Taco Bell powers Yum Brands quarterly results beat
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] A woman eats Taco Bell inside the first digital-only U.S. cantina location at Times Square in New York City, U.S., April 14, 2021. REUTERS/Shannon StapletonFeb 8 (Reuters) - Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N) beat Street estimates for quarterly sales and profit on Wednesday, as more cash-strapped consumers flocked to its Taco Bell restaurant chain for pocket-friendly meals and snacks amid still high inflation. Total same-store sales at Yum rose 6% in the fourth quarter, while analysts were expecting a 4.57% increase, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Excluding one-time items, Yum Brands earned $1.31 per share for the three months ended Dec. 31, beating estimates of $1.26. McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) last week also topped quarterly profit and sales estimates, boosted by higher menu prices and increased customer visits at the burger giant's outlets.

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.N) missed quarterly comparable sales and profit expectations on Tuesday, as customers pulled back on expensive delivery orders and traffic stalled in December. Comparable sales at California-based Chipotle rose 5.6% in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, while analysts on average expected a 7.1% rise, according to Refinitiv IBES. Visits to Chipotle restaurants fell 10.2% in the fourth quarter, according to data from Placer.ai. Delivery transactions also tumbled 15% as in-store orders surged, and Chipotle restaurants "didn't see that pop" that they normally get in December around the holidays, Chief Financial Officer Jack Hartung said on the call. We think inflation will be reasonably tame," Hartung said, adding that the company had not yet decided whether to raise menu prices further in 2023.

☆ Chipotle misses quarterly sales estimates as traffic stalls
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.N) missed quarterly comparable sales expectations on Tuesday, in a sign that price hikes are taking a toll on demand for the restaurant's burritos and rice bowls. Visits to Chipotle restaurants fell 10.2% in the fourth quarter, according to data from Placer.ai. Comparable sales at the California-based chain rose 5.6% in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, while analysts on average expected a 7.1% rise, according to Refinitiv IBES. Revenue rose to $2.18 billion from $1.96 billion in the quarter, missing estimates of $2.23 billion. Some investors are worried about the cadence of falling traffic in 2022, analysts at Cowen said in a research note.

☆ I tried 25 of Trader Joe's award-winning foods, and would buy at least 21 of them again
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Savanna Swain-Wilson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +42 min

I hit up my local Trader Joe's and bought as many award-winning foods as I could to see which ones deserved their hype. In other words, I agree with the many customers who have dubbed this their favorite Trader Joe's snack. As long as I live within reasonable driving distance of a Trader Joe's, I will continue to buy this loaf. Trader Joe's butter chicken with basmati rice is a satisfyingly spicy comfort meal for oneTrader Joe's butter chicken with basmati rice had a delicious sauce. Trader Joe's cheddar with caramelized onions offers a memorable balance of savory, salty, and sweetThe cheddar smelled like caramelized onions.

Persons: —, Monterey Jack, burrito, Savanna, Wilson, didn't, I've, It's, Joe's, I'm, they're, chorizo, I'd, Butter, they'd, Joe's cashiers, who's, fryer, Swain Wilson Organizations: Service, of Fame, Business, I'd, Wilson, panini Locations: Monterey, Monterey Jack, skillet, Savanna, Peru, treacly, San Francisco

☆ This oil and gas VC upended his career to start a plant-based burger chain. Now, he's raised $20 million to open new restaurants with plans to steal market share from McDonald's.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Next Level Burger, which makes plant-based burgers, was cofounded in 2014 by Matt de Gruyter. Next Level Burger plans to triple in size and steal share from McDonald's, de Gruyter said. In his quest to align his career with this diet, he quit his job and launched a restaurant serving plant-based burgers in 2014. Both became early backers of de Gruyter's brand, Next Level Burger, which has grown to nine restaurants in six states. The restaurant chain announced a $20 million raise on Tuesday, led by Payne and his wife, Nicole Brodeur.

☆ NFL player J.J. Watt blasts Chipotle on Twitter: 'We want big burritos back'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Arizona Cardinals player J.J. Watt called out Chipotle for shrinking burrito sizes on Twitter. Some customers have been complaining about Chipotle's portion sizes for years. Pro-bowler and Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt tweeted Sunday "Burritos have been getting smaller…," writing that he wanted to "open dialogue" with Chipotle. "We want big burritos back," he wrote, adding hashtags including "Burrito justice," "Still hungry," and "This is supposedly double meat." If its portion sizes are getting smaller, Chipotle wouldn't be the only retailer to do so.

Courtesy Roberto’s Taco Shop; LLC Courtesy Roberto’s Taco Shop; LLCMore than 70 variations have been reported across the Southwest states and the majority are owned by people who originate from the same region in Mexico that the Robledos are from. Courtesy Roberto’s Taco Shop; LLC"At first, that’s all they sold," said Reynaldo Robledo, 57, the 12th of the Robledo children. Courtesy Roberto’s Taco Shop; LLCThe restaurant initially had six combination plates and four burrito types. Outside a Roberto's Taco Shop in Nevada in 2014, when the family was in town for the gala celebration of Roberto’s 50th anniversary. Courtesy Roberto’s Taco Shop; LLCThe senior Robledo died in 1999 and Dolores died in 2020.

☆ Fast-food chains like Taco Bell, McDonald's, and Chipotle keep introducing more expensive menu items — customers are eating it up
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Executives at Taco Bell, McDonald's, and Chipotle each noted success from pricier menu items recently. The more expensive meal promotion successfully brought customers in, and "drove the highest weekly digital transactions ever in the US business," Kempczinski said in the October earnings call. Taco Bell is seeing similar success with pricier menu items like the grilled cheese burrito, YUM Brands CEO David Gibbs said in a November earnings call. In New York City, a Mexican Pizza costs $6.49, and a double steak grilled cheese burrito goes for $6.79, about double the cost of lower-priced burritos on the menu. Analysts have praised both the grilled cheese burrito and adult Happy Meal as smart strategies driving sales.

[1/3] The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S., November 17, 2021. A strong dollar has hurt the overseas profits of large firms, while soaring inflation has prompted interest rate hikes and companies to raise product prices, even as consumers have been forced to cut spending. Google's results bode ill for Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META.O), which is especially reliant on advertising and reports results on Wednesday. Last week, its smaller rival Snap Inc (SNAP.N) forecast no revenue growth for the holiday quarter, setting off warning bells in the social media industry. Shares in Spotify (SPOT.N), which also warned on slow advertising growth, slid 4%.

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